การเปลี่ยนแปลงทางความคิดและการปฏิบัติการของข้าราชการนักปกครอง พ.ศ. 2516-2540

Abstract

This thesis aims to study the transformation of government officer's thought concept and practices during 1973-1997 based on the consideration of changes in the social, economic, and political context that affect the roles played by the government officers. The establishment of the Ministry of Interior and the creation of government officers during the bureaucratic reform under Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, the Interior Minister, emphasized the notion of "the master" and "ruler" over the population in order to achieve the administrative duties effectively. This role was carried on until the development era in the 1950s, but the social, economic, and political changes, as the outcome of development of the period, had resulted to the student movement that demanded political participation which led to the "October 14” mass protest in1973. Post "October 14" role of the government officers shifted again because the old master and ruler" mindset became unacceptable to the public. As a result, a "service provider" became their new identity, in order to justify their roles and functions in the public eye. But this was short-lived, that is only 1973 - 1977. After the revival of the bureaucratic power in order to curb the expansion of the communist movement and to expand economic improvement during General Prem Tinsulanonda regime provided the backdrop for the government officers to change into a "leaders who provide security and development". This increased their role and power significantly through organizing the masses in many local projects during 1977-1987. The shift occurred again during 1987 - 1997 under three important conditions. First, the separation of duties in the regional government agencies through the promulgation of the State Administrative Service Act B.E. 2534, which reduced the powers of government officers over other local authorities. Second, the expansion of the royal hegemony through development projects that enshrined the monarch as a "developer king", which also took over as a master plan for the whole state development projects. Third, the organizations of local population and NGOs have played an important role in balancing the power of the state and the implementation of many government policies. Amid such conditions, government officers have changed their role to that of a "coordinator" in order to maintain their status in their localities.